SIMON SAYS: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Simon Hwang fires a serve in action at the Mercer Country Tournament last Wednesday. Sophomore Hwang finished fourth at second singles to help PHS take sixth in the team standings at the MCT. In upcoming matches, the Little Tigers, who topped Trenton 5-0 last Monday to improve to 8-2 in dual match action, play at Notre Dame on May 3, at WW/P-South on May 4, and at Robbinsville on May 8 before hosting Nottingham on May 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Acknowledging that the Princeton High boys’ tennis team doesn’t boast the top-end players this season that it has featured over the years, Sarah Hibbert has emphasized daily improvement.

“Everyone is working hard; we discussed it in preseason, we have lost our two big guns, as it were, so everyone else has had to step up and work really hard as a team,” said PHS head coach Hibbert, whose top two returning singles players, junior Noah Lilienthal and sophomore Jerry Gu, decided not to play for PHS this spring due to other commitments.

“They have done so. Everyone is getting better and they are trying. They are giving 100 percent and this is all you can ask.”

Last week at the Mercer County Tournament, PHS sophomore Simon Hwang gave his all as he took fourth at second singles.

“Simon has been playing really well lately,” said Hibbert, of Hwang, who fell in three sets to Arjun Krishnan of WW/P-North in the third-place match last Wednesday at Mercer County Park.

“He moves really well, he hustles for every ball, he doesn’t give up on shots. He has gotten a lot of balls back that people would have felt the point was over. He hits the ball hard. He has a good all-around game.”

Hwang’s heroics helped the Little Tigers finish sixth of 18 schools in the team standings at the MCT.

“Basically our goal is to win as many games as you can and obviously when that goal takes you to winning matches, that is fantastic,” added Hibbert. “When it doesn’t, as long as you played as well as you can, there is not much else you can do.”

In Hibbert’s view, her players have consistently done their best. “I like the attitude, the guys are all working hard; the win over Hightstown was a real highlight for us because it showed the never give up attitude,” said Hibbert, referring to the team’s thrilling 3-2 win over the Rams on April 21.

“They won the first two points off the court and we had to fight from behind love-2 and took all three third sets to close out a 3-2 victory so it was really pulling together. That was an exciting one.”

While Hibbert acknowledges that her team is facing an uphill battle in the upcoming state tournament, she believes that there are plenty of exciting moments ahead for the Little Tigers over the rest of the season.

“Our section is ridiculous so states is going to be tough for us this year,” said Hibbert, whose squad topped Trenton 5-0 last Monday to improve to 8-2 in dual match action and plays at Notre Dame on May 3, at WW/P-South on May 4, and at Robbinsville on May 8 before hosting Nottingham on May 9.

“We look to do as well as we can in our dual matches and just finish the season as strong as we can.”